* This list represents the names released by the U.S. Dept. of Defense as of closing time.

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1. "He put his country before all," says friend Master Sgt. Steven Stalker. 2. "The girls had him wrapped around their little fingers," says widow Sarah of daughters Mikajsa (left) and Aaliyah (with their dad in August). 3. "Kris was such a loving father," says Sarah (with from left, Domeij, Mikajsa and Aaliyah in October 2010). 4. "He was the perfect blend of professional and prankster," says Lt. Col. Dave Hodne of Domeij (in Iraq in '06).

14 Tours of Duty

Sgt. 1st Class Kristoffer Domeij, 29

As the war in Afghanistan enters its 11th year, PEOPLE pays tribute to soldiers killed in Kandahar province, one of the deadliest regions of the country. More than 80 soldiers have died in the province this year alone, including Sgt. 1st Class Kristoffer Domeij, 29, an elite Army Ranger who was killed by a roadside bomb Oct. 22 during his 14th deployment to Iraq and Afghanistan. The former high school football star—honored with three Bronze Stars for his bravery—won admiration from peers for his quiet confidence and charisma. A dedicated father to Mikajsa, 3, and Aaliyah, 17 mos., he told friends this deployment would be his last. "He wanted to be around for the birthdays," says friend Master Sgt. Steven Stalker. He never got the chance. But his loved ones find solace knowing he died for a cause he believed in. Says his widow, Sarah: "He was born to do what he did."

A Dog Lover

Sgt. Zainah Creamer, 28

Sgt. Zainah Creamer always had a soft spot for dogs, whether it was her rottweiler Roxanne back home or Jofa, the Ger-man shepherd she trained to sniff out bombs. "She babied them," says her cousin Courtney Mosier. "She was always buying them stuff." In January, two months into her deployment to Afghanistan, the Texarkana, Ark., native was killed in Kandahar in a bomb attack; Jofa survived unharmed. Next month her unit, the Army's 212th Military Police Detachment out of Fort Belvoir, Va., will name its canine-training facility for her. Aware of the risks in Kandahar, "she was at peace with what could happen," says Mosier. "That gives us peace now."

His Soldiers Came First

Master Sgt. Charles L. Price III, 40

Army Master Sgt. Charles L. Price III had seven children, six deployments and one singular passion. "He loved the military," says his wife, Staff Sgt. Helen Clark-Price, 41. "I couldn't get him to retire." Following in his father's footsteps, the Texan with an easy smile joined the Army after high school in 1989 and served in the first Gulf War before deploying to Kosovo, Kuwait, Iraq and most recently Afghanistan. He died in Kandahar on Aug. 12. "He was very concerned about his soldiers," recalls Sgt. Christopher Musa, 28. "He was the kind of leader you'd want to be."

Published in January 16, 2012 issue: CORRECTION: In our Dec. 26 year-end issue, we misspelled the middle name of Ergin Vedat Osman, who served in Afghanistan, in our Honoring the Fallen section on military personnel who died at war in 2011. We regret the error.